If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!
1 Corinthians 9:16
STORY
On Monday, October 14, 1912, Theodore Roosevelt left a hotel in Milwaukee, where he rested that night. As he walked out the door, striding to the waiting automobile that would take him to the convention hall where he would address the Progressive Party, an assassin stepped out of the crowd and shot the former president. The bullet went through Roosevelt’s overcoat, spectacle case, and folded manuscript; it fractured his fourth rib and lodged near his right lung.
Stunned by the impact, Roosevelt fell backwards to the ground, coughed several times, then stood up, determined to walk to the awaiting car. Ignoring the protests that he should seek immediate hospital care, Roosevelt rebukes his aids saying, “I will deliver the speech or die, one or the other.” He then journeyed to his appointed place.
Standing at the podium in the convention hall, looking out over the people massed in the grand auditorium, Roosevelt began his oration with these words: “Friends, I shall ask you to be as quiet as possible. I don’t know if you fully understand that I have just been shot; but it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose.” Roosevelt finished his speech, then sought treatment for his wound fifty minutes after the assassination attempt.
DEVOTION
Paul in his letter encourages us to be a witness for the Lord. We are to have a willingness to share the gospel message of salvation. And sharing the message comes only with the desire to seek out those who need to hear the message. A determination that nothing will stop a “Bull Moose” Chrisitan.
Though, we find ourselves making excuses not to whiteness, such as: I don’t know what to say; I can’t answer the hard questions; Everyone I know is a Christian. These are just excuses. They are self-justifications not to witness. They are attempts to rationalize our hesitancies.
I know there are societal limitations on where and when we can speak about our Christian faith. If we take seriously the concept that it is a duty, a privilege, an activity of great spiritual reward, then we will fine opportunities. In fact, if we were really sincere and dedicated, we will not have to look for opportunities, we will see them surrounding us everywhere.
Do we have such determination when it comes to sharing the gospel message? Do we have the attitude that nothing will stop us? Do we have the attitude that no obstacle is too great? Do we have the attitude that this is our uncompromising – inflexible – calling?
Paul’s attitude was that nothing will stop him from proclaiming the good news! Paul’s attitude was that no obstacle will stop him from offering the message of salvation! Paul’s attitude was that he would remain steadfast in his call to be an ambassador for the Lord!
In our devotional reading Paul wrote, “for an obligation is laid on me” to preach – to witness.
Neil Diamond, after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, continued to perform. Despite his physical limitations, he was still performed in concert halls across the globe. He attributed his ability to do so, despite his illness, saying: “And its music – I’ve been doing it since I was a teenager. I don’t tense up when I get in front of a microphone. That’s when I loosen up and let it all hang out.” In the same article, published on January 19, 2021 in Parade magazine, the singer and song writer said his favorite song is Sweet Caroline “because it’s so available to everybody. It’s not the most sophisticated song I’ve written and maybe it’s not the best melody, but it’s the most friendly. It makes any occasion into a party.”
We have many frailties, but we can still comfortably sit with someone and share the gospel message. Our message need not be one of harsh ridicule, but simply a “most friendly” story of what Jesus means to me.